Adjustable bulkhead



March 8,1927.

Y J. C. WHISLER ET AL ADJUSTABLE BULKHEA D Filed July 1. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheetl March 8 1927.

J. c. WHISLER ET AL ADJUSTABLE BULKHEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1. 1926 Inventors e7; 6177/? sZer, 6 q

By @1400 M Attarney Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

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JOSEPH C. WHISLER AND CLAYTQN R. MCELVIEE, OF PERU, INDIANA.

ADJUSTABLE BULKHEAD.

Application filed July 1, 1926. Serial No. 119.994.

This invent-ion relates to an improved adjustable bulkhead structure for freight cars and the like, and it is obviously the purpose of such a device to divide the interior of the car body into compartments of dif ferent sizes for accommodating the merchane, dise packed therein.

Briefly, the invention has reference to a novel unit which includes a casing adapted to be connected to the wall of the car body, the casing being constructed to accommodate a swingable adjustably mounted gate which is adapted to extend either across a car door opening or partially across the interior of the car body for forming one half of a partition wall.

' The specific details which serve to make up the improved structure and which constitutes the novelty of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side view ofa freight car with one side wall broken away to show the invention installed, the improved gate being shown extending across the car door opening.

Figure 2- is a transverse section through the car showing the gate swung to a position for forming a transverse'partition wall.

Figure 3 is a top fragmentary view showing the structure seen in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the casing showing the gate thereon swung out to a right angular position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top view of the same.

Figure 6 is a section taken approximately upon the plane of the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Before proceeding with the detailed description we wish to again call attention to the fact that the invention is capable of forming either a closure for a car door opening in one of the side walls of the car body, or a transverse partition wall in the interior of the body for dividing the latter into variable compartments. Moreover, in forming the transpartition wall, two devices are required and in order to form temporary closures for the car door openings on opposite sides, four of the. devices are required, one on either side of each car door opening. These devices, or units, as they will be hereinafter designated are all of the same construction as far as the principal features are concerned. Therefore, we shall proceed to describe but a single device.

Proceeding in accordance with the foregoing, it will be seen that the reference character l designates generally the entire device which as before indicated, comprises a casing- 2 which is here shown as being of general rectangular form, the same being adapted to be fastened to the inner side of the car body wall in any appropriate manner. As shown plainly in Figure 6, this casing is provided with upper and lower cylindrical guide rods 3 and 4 arranged in vertically spaced parallelism. In addition, each casing is provided with a plurality of outstanding studs 5 which constitute stops. There are preferably three rows of these studs, there being a top row between the upper guide rod and top flange, a lower row between the lower guide rod and the lower flange and a central row. Obviously the studs of each row are arranged in vertical alignment with each other. The gate is designated generally by the reference character 6 and this is corrugated as at 7 to provide a multiplicity of longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs, thus permitting a comparatively light weight sheet metal plate to be employed while retaining strength and durability. As before stated, this gate is swingably and adjustably mounted in the casing, and in carrying out this end we provide the same at its inner end with a pair of right angular brackets 8. In addition, we fasten an angle iron 9 at this end, the same extending between and being spaced from the brackets 8. One flange 10 (see Figure 4) is riveted to the gate, and. the other flange 10 extends at right angles and has its end portions directed angularly as at 12. These ends 12 together with the similarly extended ends of the brackets 8 are formed with bearings, the same being provided with openings to accommodate pintles on a cylindrical slide block 13, which is associated therewith. Each block is provided with an opening for passage of the complemental guide rod 13. At this time we would. state that the adjacent edge portion of the gate is provided with notches 14 which cooperate with the slidable hinge blocks and constitute seats for reception of the guide rods, thus permitting the gate to be swung out at right angles to the casing. It is yet to be pointed out that the gate is provided at its free end with elongated slots 15 arranged at vertically spaced points and adapted to accommodate eyes 16 on a complemental gate 17 Obviously, locking pins 18 are simply passed down through the eyes to straddle the slots in making a well known form of connection.

. and practicability.

In practice the device is fastened upon the interior of the wall of the car body so that the casing is located adjacent to one vertical edge of the car door opening as shown in Figures 1 to 3. The open side of the casing is of course disposed inwardly and when it is desired to form a transverse partition on the interior of the body, the gate 6 is swung out at right angles to the casing. The pivotal connection between the inner end of the gate and the sliding hinge block permits this to be accomplished. Obviously, when the gate assumes its right angular relation the guide rods 3 extend into the notches 14. In this way the edge portion of the gate extending inwardly beyond the hinge blocks projects into the path of the stops 5. By reason of this arrange ment the gate may be shifted along and engaged with any particular set of stops desired and held in adjusted position. Assuming that there is a complemental device on the opposite side of the car body, the gate 17 as shown in Figure 4 will be fastened to the gate 6 in the method shown and a partition wall formed as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. To adjust the gate in either instance it is necessary to swing it toward the casing at such an angle as to cause the inner edge to clear the stop pins 5. If desired, the gate may be folded completely into the casing to render it out of the way. Moreover, it may be extended beyond one end of the casing as shown in Figure 1 and connected with a complemental gate for forming a temporary closure for the car door opening. This will be found exceptionally advantageous for preventing displacement of the freight while the main car door is being opened.

The outstanding features of this arrangement are compactness and convenience of arrangement of parts. simplicity in construction, ease of manufacture and installation, These advantages and the'operation in construction will no doubt be clear to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, after reading the detailed description in connection with the drawings for this reason a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described it is to be understood that minor changes com ing within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patents is I. In a bulkhead unit of the class described, a casing adapted to be fastened upon a car body, a gate foldable into the casing or swingable outwardly therefrom to a right angular position, and means for hingedly and slidably connecting said gate with said casmg.

2. In a bulkhead unit of the class described, a casing adapted to be fastened upon a car body wall, said casing being provided with vertically spaced guide rods. blocks slidable upon said rods, and a gate hingedly connected with said blocks.

3. In a bulkhead unit of the class described, a casing open on one side, a gate adapted to close said open side. said gate being in the form of a plate corrugated to provide longitudinal reinforcing ribs, a pair of vertically spaced guide rods mounted in said casing, hinge blocks slidable on said rods. and pivotal connections between said blocks andone end of said gate.

4:. In a bulkhead unit of the class de scribed. a casing open on one side, a gate adapted to close said open side, said gate being in the form of a plate corrugated to provide longitudinal reinforcing ribs, a pair of vertically spaced guide rods mounted in said casing, hinge blocks slidable on said rods, pivotal connections between said blocks and one end of said gate, and a plurality of sets of stop elements in said casing with which the hinged ends of said doors are cooperable to permit it to be held in various adjusted positions when disposed at rightangles to the casing.

5. In a bulkhead unit, a pair of vertically spaced guide rods adapted for horizontal disposition, blocks slidable on said rods. a gate hingedly connected with said blocks, and means for mounting said guide rods on the wall of a car body.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH C. VVHISLFJR.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CLAYTON R. MOELIVEE. 

